Should Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell step down from the top position in Congress, Republicans will be looking for someone savvy enough to accomplish a difficult legislative to-do list and trusted by the president.

President Donald Trump has not held back in his repeated criticisms of McConnell. Trump blames him for failing to repeal Obamacare in the first six months that Republicans controlled both the Congress and the presidency.

A Senate majority leader under Trump has a difficult job of working to pass complex legislation, including Obamacare repeal, immigration reform, tax reform and a massive infrastructure spending bill, in a sharply-divided chamber with a slight majority. All without attracting the ire of the commander in chief.

John Cornyn

As the number two in GOP Senate leadership, current Majority Whip Sen. John Cornyn would be the obvious replacement for McConnell.

He’s known for taking tough jobs that other senators don’t want and even told Politico in March that the majority leadership position is “something I would be interested in doing.”

Thad Cochran

As the second most senior Republican in the Senate, Sen. Thad Cochran of Mississippi holds a commanding position in the body. He chairs the largest Senate committee, the Committee on Appropriations, overseeing 12 subcommittees.

Orrin Hatch

Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch is one of the most senior Republicans, and the second most senior senator in the chamber. While he considered retiring in 2018, he decided to stay to help Trump fight against the ingrained Washington establishment.

Trump was even influential in convincing Hatch to not retire after four decades in the Senate. “His pitch is he needs me,” Hatch said of Trump in March. “Things are going to be just fine.”

Chuck Grassley

Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley has been in the Senate since 1981. He’s proved adept at attracting co-sponsors on his bills and resolutions, ranking third highest for that particular skill in 2015, according to GovTrack.

The Senate leadership position isn’t about being popular. It’s about wrangling votes, building coalitions, and understanding unique Senate rules to accomplish one’s objectives. A deep understanding of how committees’ work goes a long way.

Shelley Capito

Having the support of Trump may not be as important as having the respect senators representing Trump supporters, but West Virginia Sen. Shelley Capito has both.

John Barrasso

Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso is a relatively new senator (he was elected in 2006), but in his tenure, he’s served on an impressive number of committees. He now chairs the Committee on the Environment and Public Works and leads the Senate Republican Policy Committee.

8 Comments

Are you serious? More globalists to lead Senate? Grassley is only one on that list who will move POTUS American voters’ agenda forward.

August 12, 2017

Bob_Oscar

I don’t like any of these guys…how about Ted Cruz?.

August 12, 2017

Prunella

Grassley is the only acceptable candidate on this list – the rest are hopeless Globalists with no principles. They are all akin to Jeff Flake without the big Blabbermouth ! Yikes !

August 11, 2017

Chris

Cornyn??? Seriously???

When the Democrats ran the Senate, Cornyn was notorious for voting for cloture to bring a liberal bill to the floor, then voting against it to preserve his “strong conservative” rating. He is known for being a major backer for corporate concerns; his main interest in we, the people is to secure our votes to stay in power. I wouldn’t put any money on him surviving in 2020, especially if, as rumored, Perry runs against him in the primary.

Cornyn is the consummate corporate DC establishment insider.

August 11, 2017

John

How about an actual turtle this time?

August 11, 2017

Prunella

Would do a better job !

August 11, 2017

Carmen

My God who can even think seriously that Linsey Graham can replace Mitch McConnell this Senator will be a disaster for President Trump, he has been a No Trump from the beginning, he is against all the policies. He is always with Democrats and McCain another more Dem. Than Republican. This will be a tragedy.